Japan finance minister Azumi suggests Tokyo's yen-weakening interventions over the past year or so have given China an excuse to defend its policy of keeping the yuan stable; if so, this could add to speculation that the U.S. and Europe are displeased by Japan's solo interventions (excluding the joint G-7 action in March). During a parliament session, Azumi, while declining to disclose details of recent debates by G-20 finance chiefs, offers hints on how they go; the finance minister notes that in general, if the U.S. talks about the yuan, "the other side questions what is going on with the U.S.'s unemployment rate. ... (full story)